Since joining the Broward County Library team in April, I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to get to know many of you – the customers, staff, community and stakeholders of Broward County Library. As a recent transplant to South Florida, I am thrilled to now be a member of this diverse, multicultural community so filled with vibrant energy, culture and excitement.

This month, Broward County Libraries Division will celebrate both Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 – Oct. 15) and Viva Florida 500, the statewide initiative that celebrates the 500th anniversary of Juan Ponce de Leon’s arrival in Florida. Fall is in the air (thank goodness!), and after a long, hot summer, Broward County Libraries Division will be embarking on a number of innovative, forward-thinking projects that’ll make spaces and places where the community can be inspired to create, think, contribute and grow. As we face new challenges and victories, I feel honored to be a part of what Broward County Libraries Division is and will be.

I encourage you to keep an eye on the news section of broward.org/library to stay up-to-date on Broward County Library’s exciting new developments.

“Meet the New Library Director” Receptions Introduce Skye Patrick to the Community (back to top)

Seventy-five community leaders and members of the Broward Public Library Foundation Board of Directors welcomed new Broward County Libraries (BCL) Division Director Skye Patrick at two receptions in June.

At the receptions, Patrick shared her vision of making cutting-edge technology available to BCL customers, starting with a series of “makerspace” projects, which are hands-on, mentor-led learning environments that feature 3-D printers.

Ms. Patrick is only the fifth library director in Broward County Library’s 39-year history. She joins Broward County Library following the retirement of Robert Cannon in January. Two former library directors – Cecil Beach and Sam Morrison – attended the receptions in her honor.

Before coming to Broward County, Patrick served as assistant director at the Queens Public Library in New York, where she managed 20 branch locations. Previously, she worked as a youth services librarian, a branch manager and a web services designer for the San Francisco Public Library.

Library Foundation Board Chair Suzanne Migdall and Library Foundation Executive Director Dorothy Klein spoke at the receptions about the Library Foundation’s mission of supporting Library programs and services. They also presented a video about the Library Foundation and its chief fundraising event, Literary Feast. Literary Feast 2014 will be held March 15-17.